SCRIPTURE: Hebrews (NIV) 11:13 All these people were still living by faith when they died. They did not receive the things promised; they only saw them and welcomed them from a distance. And they admitted that they were aliens and strangers on earth. 14 People who say such things show that they are looking for a country of their own. 15 If they had been thinking of the country they had left, they would have had opportunity to return. 16 Instead, they were longing for a better country—a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them…
26 He [Moses] regarded disgrace for the sake of Christ as of greater value than the treasures of Egypt, because he was looking ahead to his reward.
OBSERVATION: A main characteristic of “living by faith” is that one sees more than what is happening in the present. The present is just a short bridge between the past and the future. People living by faith have a past, but their focus is the future. Their present circumstances may seem less than desirable, but, like Moses, they are “looking ahead.”
Also, for those in enjoyable, pleasant present circumstances, they too need to be “living by faith.” They too are living in the temporary, headed for a permanent eternity. They need to use their present resources to prepare for eternity.
APPLICATION: Acknowledging that I am a sinner, believing that Jesus’ death on the cross can be accepted as payment for my sins, leads me to ask forgiveness and make Jesus the Lord of my life. That takes care of my personal entrance into heaven.
Then doing the things that please the Lord and bring Him joy, those are the things He will reward in heaven. We do those things because we love Him, not because we are looking for a reward. But from the scriptures we know that our loving God is generous.
PRAYER: Lord, I serve you because I love you. The joy I get from serving and pleasing you is reward enough. Your “well done” will make my heart rejoice. But from the scriptures I know that you are a loving God and generous. Like Moses, I am “looking ahead.” Amen
Pastor Leon
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